Ripper.



PATENTED- MAR. 6, 1906.

I. E. REED.

RIPPER.

' APPLIOATION FILED 91:0.16, 190a.

FERDINAND ELMER REED, OF J OLIET, ILLINOIS.

RIPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed December 16, 1903. Serial No. 185,411.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FERDINAND ELMER REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rippers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a ripper for use in cutting thread-stitches in separating parts of garments; and the primary object of the same is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this class adapted for use by ladies and tailors generally and having structural features by means of which it can be readily applied to a finger of the hand similarly to a thimble and remain in proper applied position during the ripping operation.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is 'a perspective view of a ripper embodying the features of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same.

Similar numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

Numeral 1 designates an open thimble or sleeve constructed of suitable metal and gradually tapered from its rear toward its front end, both ends being open. The sleeve is provided with angular flanges 2, which are spaced apart from each other and have rigidly secured the'rebetween the shank or rear extremity 3 of a cutting-blade 4. The blade 4 has a lower cutting edge 5, which is disposed centrally in relation to the thimble 1, said edge running to a point 6. The blade 4 is immovably held in the thimble and is of such length as to project far enough beyond the front reduced end of said thimble to render it convenient and practicable in ripping.

In applying the improved device it is ordinarily slip ed over thefirst joint of the indexfinger of tlie left hand, the dimensions of the thimble 1 being such as to cause the blade projected from the thimble to be advanced fully beyond the end of the finger. By this means the operator is free to use the ripper and dispose it at any angle desired by a quick movement of the first joint of the finger on which the ripper is applied, and as the cutting edge 5 of the blade is at the bottom of the latter the ripping operation may be rapidly carried on. Moreover, it will be observed that the blade 4 is always held above the finger, and to bring the cutting edge thereof in contact with the stitches it is necessary to bend the joint of the finger. The front end of the front opening is provided with a downwardlyinclined edge portion 6 to permit of the first joint of the index-finger when passed through the opening of the thimble, so that the bend of said joint of the finger will bend down in contact with the incline to operate the blade. At any time desired the blade may be sharpened without detaching the same from the thimble, particularly adjacent to the point 6. I attach importance to the construction of my ripper, for the reason that I provide the same with a thimble the configuration of the inner body portion of which conforms to the configuration of the forefinger of the hand when the same is placed thereon. Further, the thimble being provided with flanges of the same length as the thimble, I secure between the same one half of a knife-blade, having its rear end in line with the rear ends of the flanges, and by extending the other half of the blade in front of the thimble the implement serves to give a rigid action on the work of ripping. I attach further importance to the blade having a sharp-pointed end which serves the purpose of readily picking a stitch loosev from the garment before commencing the operation of ri ping.

Having thus ful y described the invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A device for ripping stitches comprising a tube having open ends and provided with upwardly projecting spaced apart flanges formed by a continuation of the body of the tube, a knife-blade having its shank portion secured between said flanges, said blade be-- ing arranged to extend laterally from the front opening of said tube, and said front end of the said tube having a downwardly angularly inclined edge portion which serves to permit of the blade being operated by the finger in either an upward or downward di rection, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND ELMER REED.

Witnesses:

TONY WELTIN, H. M. VAN DEUSEN. 

